Notes on a just and regenerative future

On our blog, you’ll read contributions from a range of people and organisations who share our enthusiasm and our ambition for a just and regenerative future, and our desire to learn from each other.

Our Seeds for Storytelling

Saskia is the Learning Curator at the School of System Change. Here she shares our evolution for the School, the path ahead and our intentions for inquiry and storytelling — jump to the end of this article to see our six key themes we’re exploring in 2023! I have been at the …
by Saskia Rysenbry

May 25, 2023
Systems Change and the Circular Economy With Anna Birney

Systems change can help us understand and act for different challenges. Dr Anna Birney, CEO at the School of System Change, joined Lou on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy Show on 28th March 2023 to discuss how it applies to the Circular Economy. Watch the video or …
by School of System Change

May 24, 2023
Making Progress in Complex Policy Environments

Curious about how systemic approaches can enable real progress in public policymaking in complex environments? On Thursday 4 May 2023, the School of System Change and Oliver Standing (that’s me; a proud alum of the School) co-hosted a webinar to explore this topic, featuring …
- #In Practice
by Oliver Standing

May 17, 2023
Irrigating Our Health Ecosystems with System Change Practitioners

Marion Birnstill is a Global Health specialist and facilitator who is deeply intrigued by the link between health, spirituality, and systems change. She studied with the School of System Change before partnering to explore together how we might irrigate our health ecosystems …
- #Health
by Marion Birnstill

November 29, 2022
From War Zones to Children’s Hubs: Insights and Advice From My Systems Journey

Scott Hinkle completed the School of System Change Basecamp and Spark programmes in 2021. Here he shares insights and advice from entering the world of complexity to his current focus, including embodying systems change as an internal practice and three practical facilitation …
- #Alumni Stories
by Scott Hinkle

October 3, 2022
Pattern Spotting: A Core Practice for Systems Change

I find pattern spotting deeply satisfying as a practice. It helps me work with complexity rather than trying to simplify it, it reveals rhythms and structures that can support deep change work, it awakens my curiosity and creativity and quietens my rational brain’s constant …
by Laura Winn

September 21, 2022
‘Swimming in the Vast Sea of Systems Change’: 5 Key Lessons Nurtured Through Basecamp

In 2021 I (Mairi Lowe) completed the School of System Change Basecamp programme. I was delighted to speak with the School team to share how the course shifted my mindset to help me embrace complexity and move through self-doubt and overwhelm, plus how I put this mindset shift …
- #Alumni Stories
by Mairi Lowe

December 9, 2021
Turning the Stone: Embedding Systems Thinking in the Everyday

The context Images Isn’t it interesting how frequently as human beings we turn to metaphor? Sometimes these images are so embedded in the everyday that we don’t see them for what they are. We talk about ‘just ploughing on’, ‘turning over a new leaf’ and much more. Why? Because …
- #Alumni Stories
by Oliver Standing

December 6, 2021
Investors in Change: Insights From Funders’ Learning Journeys

The School of System Change alongside co-initiating partners at Ashoka, Catalyst 2030, Garfield Foundation and Lankelly Chase set out to build an online learning environment for philanthropic funders and impact investors to explore systems change. In designing a modular learning …
by School of System Change

November 30, 2021
‘Becoming a System Transformation Leader’: My Basecamp Journey

My story in public health began at the moment when I heard the news that our president had signed the bill of “healthcare system transformation” and created an agency that would be leading Azerbaijan through these reforms. I remember immediately deciding to join the team of this …
- #Alumni Stories
by Nigar Izmayilova

November 24, 2021
Applying Regenerative Practice to Systems Beyond Place - Some Thoughts

By way of introduction: spiky fruit Prickly pear fruit It’s the first of October, and I’ve been writing this piece for over half a year! Yesterday this cactus caught my eye. The spiky leaves and the ripe fruit spoke to me of the necessity to take these unpolished thoughts and …
by Laura Winn

October 1, 2021
Facilitation: An Essential Systemic Practice

In 2001 fresh out of university I was looking for jobs that connected me to issues I cared about, to play a role in sustainability in some shape or form. I came across an opportunity to support a multi-stakeholder process around the World Summit on Sustainable Development, being …
by Anna Birney

September 18, 2021
‘Systems Only Change When People Do’: My Learning From Basecamp and the Future of Protein

Roberta Iley is the acting Associate Director for UK/Europe at Forum for the Future. Here she looks back on how participating in the School of System Change Basecamp programme in 2019 has impacted her work transforming food systems. When I joined Forum for the Future, I knew I …
- #Alumni Stories
by Roberta Iley

August 26, 2021